View source for Becoming Always Happy in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

The pursuit of happiness is the fundamental drive of every living being. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this is natural because the soul is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, who is the reservoir of all pleasure. To be "always happy" is not an artificial imposition but the constitutional position of the soul. In Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one reclaims this heritage by reconnecting with the source of joy.

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=== The Nature of the Soul ===

Kṛṣṇa is described as ''ātmārāma'', or fully self-satisfied. Since the living entities are qualitative samples of the Lord, they also possess the nature to be always happy. Suffering arises only when the soul is placed in the incompatible atmosphere of the material world and forgets its eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa.

* [[Vaniquotes:As Krsna is always happy, the living entities, who are His parts and parcels, are also happy by nature, but because of being put within this material world and forgetting their eternal relationship with Krsna, they have forgotten their real nature|As Krsna is always happy, the living entities, who are His parts and parcels, are also happy by nature, but because of being put within this material world and forgetting their eternal relationship with Krsna, they have forgotten their real nature.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:By our nature we want to be very blissful, always happy. That is our nature. And we can possess, revive our nature of eternal happiness, provided we try to get it in this human form of life|By our nature we want to be very blissful, always happy. That is our nature. And we can possess, revive our nature of eternal happiness, provided we try to get it in this human form of life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:That (if you become KC, you will be always happy) is a fact. For example, if you are an animal of the land and you are thrown into the water, you cannot be happy in water in any condition. When you are again taken up a the land, then you'll be happy|That is a fact. For example, if you are an animal of the land and you are thrown into the water, you cannot be happy in water in any condition. When you are again taken up a the land, then you'll be happy.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When one is promoted to this (original and spiritual) status, one is always happy in transcendental bliss. Otherwise, as long as one is in the bodily concept of life, one must suffer material conditions|When one is promoted to this (original and spiritual) status, one is always happy in transcendental bliss. Otherwise, as long as one is in the bodily concept of life, one must suffer material conditions.]]

=== The Brahma-bhūta Platform ===

The ''Bhagavad-gītā'' defines the stage of liberation as ''brahma-bhūta'', where one becomes ''prasannātmā'', or always joyful. A person on this platform is free from the duality of hankering and lamentation, which are the root causes of distress in the material world.

* [[Vaniquotes:A Brahman realized person is always happy. Na socati na kanksati: he neither laments nor aspires for anything|A Brahman realized person is always happy. Na socati na kanksati: he neither laments nor aspires for anything.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One who is brahma-bhuta is always happy - prasannatma|One who is brahma-bhuta is always happy - prasannatma.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A transcendentally situated person has no sense desires resulting from petty materialism; rather, he remains always happy in his natural position of eternally serving the Supreme Lord. BG 1972 purports|A transcendentally situated person has no sense desires resulting from petty materialism; rather, he remains always happy in his natural position of eternally serving the Supreme Lord.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Being unattached to the material world, He has no affection for so-called happiness or hatred for so-called distress. The two terms happiness and distress are relative. Since the Lord is always happy, for Him there is no question of distress|Being unattached to the material world, He has no affection for so-called happiness or hatred for so-called distress. The two terms happiness and distress are relative. Since the Lord is always happy, for Him there is no question of distress.]]

=== Happiness Through Service ===

Devotional service should be performed with enthusiasm and joy. Śrīla Prabhupāda advises that devotees should not overburden themselves with impossible tasks that lead to frustration. The essence of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to remain satisfied and happy in whatever service one can sincerely offer.

* [[Vaniquotes:Krishna Consciousness means we should always be satisfied and happy, not that we must work something impossible, becoming overburdened, and then because we are unhappy by so much trouble we lose enthusiasm altogether and give up all hope|Krishna Consciousness means we should always be satisfied and happy, not that we must work something impossible, becoming overburdened, and then because we are unhappy by so much trouble we lose enthusiasm altogether and give up all hope.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:All the devotees should be satisfied. They have given their lives to Krishna, so we should see they are always happy. Their service is voluntary. It is not that we can force anyone to do anything. If we do they will go away and that is a great loss|All the devotees should be satisfied. They have given their lives to Krishna, so we should see they are always happy. Their service is voluntary. It is not that we can force anyone to do anything. If we do they will go away and that is a great loss.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A pure devotee is one who feels He (God) does not possess anything material. A devotee is always happy in possessing the devotional service of the Lord|A pure devotee is one who feels He (God) does not possess anything material. A devotee is always happy in possessing the devotional service of the Lord.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:These associates are always happy in their service to Krsna, and they are generally known as vayasyas, or friends of the same age. These vayasyas are fully confident of protection by Krsna|These associates are always happy in their service to Krsna, and they are generally known as vayasyas, or friends of the same age. These vayasyas are fully confident of protection by Krsna.]]

=== The Method: Chanting and Following ===

The practical method to achieve this state of being always happy is to follow the instructions of the Lord and the spiritual master. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that creating one's own plans leads to misery, while following the authorized path, especially the chanting of the ''mahā-mantra'', guarantees happiness.

* [[Vaniquotes:If you follow Krsna's instruction, you'll always be happy. And if you create your own plans, then you'll be unhappy. This is the whole instruction|If you follow Krsna's instruction, you'll always be happy. And if you create your own plans, then you'll be unhappy. This is the whole instruction.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:By His personal behavior, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed that He was never distressed but always happy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. One should follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and engage constantly in chanting the maha-mantra|By His personal behavior, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed that He was never distressed but always happy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. One should follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and engage constantly in chanting the maha-mantra.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If he's material conscious, he'll never be happy. If he becomes Krsna conscious, he'll be always happy. Now it is up to you whether to accept this or that|If he's material conscious, he'll never be happy. If he becomes Krsna conscious, he'll be always happy. Now it is up to you whether to accept this or that.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:All over the universe there are two parties - the Visnu party, or God-conscious party, and the godless party. The godless party is never happy or victorious, but the God-conscious party is always happy and victorious|All over the universe there are two parties - the Visnu party, or God-conscious party, and the godless party. The godless party is never happy or victorious, but the God-conscious party is always happy and victorious.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Being always happy is the litmus test of spiritual advancement. If one is Kṛṣṇa conscious, they must be happy; if they are not happy, it indicates a lack of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By giving up material designations and taking shelter of the Supreme Lord, one transcends the temporary distresses of this world and situates oneself in the eternal bliss that is the birthright of every soul.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Always Happy|Always Happy]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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